DLGP

Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspectives: Crafting Ministry in an Interconnected World

Cut off the end of the Ham!

By: on September 26, 2012

There is a joke that has been around for quite a while.  A young man is helping in the kitchen, watching his new bride prepare a ham for Sunday dinner.  As the wife cuts off an inch from each end, the husband asks why.  She replies that it must make the ham more delicious.  She…

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The Power of Spin in Politically Consumed America and The Power of Silence in Oppressive Regimes

By: on September 26, 2012

I found the section, “Baudrillard: postmodernity as simulated media culture” a fascinating read (even though I struggled to understand the interrelated intricacies of the fragmented views that make up the post-modernity social theories).  In particular, I was very interested in his theory that viewing social interplay as “signs and spectacles” leaves simulation the only reality.…

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Women, Sexuality & the Church

By: on September 26, 2012

Abstinence before marriage has long been held as an ideal; from the tribal Middle East origins of the monotheistic traditions to contemporary Christianity.  Even the “mother of God” was abstinent as well as a virgin when she delivered Jesus.  As the Christian church evolved, some traditions like polygamy and arranged marriages were left behind; while…

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Globalization and the Churh

By: on September 26, 2012

The world is getting smaller, or at least it seems to be, because of globalization (or maybe it’s because I’m sitting in South Africa with 24 people from the United States).  Globalization is the intensifying of relationships around the world, be it economic, technological or others. We might answer the age-old question of, ‘What does…

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Who Is Responsible for Our Children Receiving a Quality Education?

By: on September 23, 2012

Even the mention of social agendas can frustrate the common man, especially when politics are involved. However, one leading issue of our day, the education of our children, is an elephant in the room that we cannot ignore. It is an issue with international impact, one that effects how future generations will find their place…

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Society isn’t a One-way Street of Either/Or

By: on September 20, 2012

Experiencing our Indian traffic can be quite an adventure. An outsider would easily assume that the average Indian is well versed with an extreme sport. And to a westerner, particularly, it would be completely chaotic, reckless, and dangerous. At first glance, there seems to be no order or structure to the way the traffic flows.…

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Past, present and future

By: on September 20, 2012

Two things, one from the past and one from the present weigh heavily on me during this present reading and even as I write now.  Having had very little exposure to the study of social theory in the past, the initial reading of ’ Contemporary Social Theories’ by Anthony Elliot was a little tough but…

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Signs of the Times

By: on September 20, 2012

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?”   This song by Five Man Electrical Band coming out of the 60s in the U.S. represented a huge social shift in the culture. Some say this message was the youth culture reacting…

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Is Marx Right About Our Society?

By: on September 20, 2012

Is Marx right in his critique of capitalism? When we examine the current situation that exists in the U.S. at first glance, it may appear the Marx’s point is well taken. For example, on the one hand, Marx argues that the obvious economic inequities that are visible in our capitalistic society are due to structural…

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“socialicious symbolism”

By: on September 20, 2012

I find the study of social theory fascinating, indeed delicious!  Treats of theories about why we are the way we are.  Anthony Elliott, in his book Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction gives us bites of the variety of social theorists’ dishes.  From Adorno and Horkheimer with their analysis of human barbarism and fascism to Freud…

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The Morning Commute

By: on September 20, 2012

A few years ago my family and I lived at a home which was located in the middle of no where.  Great for silence and solitude, but horrible for the daily work commute. It was a killer on our cars as well as the gas budget!  Just commuting one direction was 46 miles and took…

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Social Theory . . . and some guesstimates

By: on September 19, 2012

Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction by Anthony Elliot is a challenging read for me.  I have not studied sociology in any formal way beyond taking basic undergrad courses.  However, I am thankful for the assignment as it has provided me with an opportunity to read about some of the social theories and how they might…

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Who are we inspired by?

By: on September 19, 2012

Who do we give the chance to speak into our lifes? What is the society we are surrounded by and that we ally with (lat. societas/socii – eng. allies)?   The literature in our DMin program led us this week to a introduction in social theory. Anthony Elliott presents in his book “Contemporary Social Theory”…

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Social Theory and Discipleship

By: on September 19, 2012

Social theory isn’t something that is readily studied in Christian circles, at least the circles I’m familiar with, and therefore something that I’m a neophyte in. After a rather in-depth overview of several aspects of social theory in Anthony Elliot’s Contemporary Social Theory, I think ministers should give social theory more attention and thought. I…

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Technology Can Free Rather Than Enslave

By: on September 18, 2012

As I began the quest of reading, and trying to understand, Contemporary Social Theory by Elliot, I was surprised how interested I became.  This is new ground as I’ve had precious little study personally or academically in this area.  Some of the names and theories are familiar but precious few.  Therefore I am grateful how…

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64 percent of all the world’s statistics…

By: on September 17, 2012

garrickroegner: … are made up right there on the spot 82.4 percent of people believe ‘em whether they’re accurate statistics or not -Todd Snider, “Statistician’s Blues” Interesting blurb here from Christianity Today on how people underestimate the percentage of Protestants in the USA, while overestimating the number of other religious minorities. http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2012/09/americans-underestimate-protestants.html I wonder why this…

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Envisioning a Brighter Horizon

By: on September 17, 2012

Challenge Critical thinking does not come naturally to everyone. How then do community leaders start the process of teaching this skill to groups such as children and adolescents who are victims of poverty and illiteracy? Two Evolving Solutions 1.      Relationships are vital to any functional community. At one point in the USA’s history, the local…

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